The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03

People who dri.t usually believe In fate.
don't believe in the predestined order OF
things. TO be sure there appears TO be, at
times, sort Of dark fatality overhangine
some lives, and there certainly are some
indisputable and unaccountable signs OF
"luck," good or bad, which we ell see some
times, but nine times out Of ten, in the gen.
eral run, mans life is what he makes It,
am firm believer in free moral agency.
see no reason why man should become a
thief because he has q chance to steal, OF
should follow out, in every case, what cir.
cupstances dictate. Let him look ahead.
No sailor would think Of going over the
seas without sharp lookout ahead. Why
shouldn't that apply to living? ! say look
ahead-the farther the better. Peer into
the future as far as you can see. have
heard and seen this " drifting" and read
about 4" floating down the stream of. lfe,"
till il has depressing effect. People can
auds do float and DRIFT through life with
comparative case, but nobody ever drifted
into brain leadership and position. No one
ever sercnely aoated into greatness. The
tide don't run that way. The saying that
L" circumstances make the man" is LIBEL
on MAN. The greatest men the world has
ever known have been so IN spite Of circum-
stances. Circumstances can change the
course Of ones success, as a rock can change
the course of a river, and in much the same
way They rise up in front, black, frown.
ing and impossible but no rock can stop o
river, and no circumstances that his satanic
majesty could plan, can stop the successful
career of determined, honest, hard work
ing man. He will rise just in proportion as
he hos brains and behaves himself.
There is another thing want to say right
here, too. 1t seems to be pretty general
impression that there isn't any use of stir
ring up row; anything for peace. l say
if you know you are on the right track
stave right ahead, row or no row. 1t is not
the man VINO always shuns strife who rises
the highest, but he who can handle himself
in the toughest storm. A man who can
keep perfectly clear.headed in any storm
that rises, keep his temper, hold on to his
tongue, and then, when his turn comes, even
things up with good cool, wholesome dig
nifty of force that will make his enemies
think more of him as they rub the places
where he hit-that man like.
1t isn't the drifting we want. 1t isn't
{" floating" or fate" or circumstances.
All that don't amount to continental.
What we need is force, grit, push, determin-
alton, courage, fire. The things most desr
able In this world must be fought for, and
the power that conquers is that deep, indom-
liable force that inspired Benjamin Disraeli
when his first speech in the English Parlia-
ment was Kissed down. He stood there
whipped, insulted, pale, but defiant, and
clenching his fist, and raising his voice to
its highest pitch, he shouted to the kissing
Lords, Some day you'U hear me-" And
they did.
1t is just this fire we all need more of.
Not in temper, or raging and tearing things
to pieces, but a steady, fierce, glowing heat
that stays right along-the quiet, clear, re-
sistless heat that never cools off.
Never talk of drifting" or of " fate"
if you want to get anywhere or be anybody.
Don't do any drifting; don't overwork but
have some purpose and stick to it. DO some.
thing Be SOMEBODY.